Everybody's Celebrating Something! No Questions Asked!

[L&Lfan]

When I was at the MK last week I saw a cast member with a cart near City Hall that was full of the celebrating buttons (1st Visit, Birthday, Anniversary, Just Married, I'm Celebrating generic, etc) I had never seen this before although the CM said it's been there for about 6 months. I asked her if one has to prove it's their birthday, etc and she said no, anyone can come up and grab a button. She said we don't want anyone to feel left out. I just think this is bizarre....it makes the buttons and the whole "I'm celebrating something" meaningless. Maybe people think they're gonna get free stuff if they say they're celebrating something. I've never gotten anything but a greeting when I've worn a button, although I've heard about people getting the grey stuff at BOG or a cupcake at other restaurants. I would assume now since practically everyone's wearing a button Disney is no longer giving anything away unless perhaps something special is noted in the ADR. Just wanted to know what you think about this. Is it fair to offer everyone an "I'm celebrating" button whether they are or not? Or should I just chill?.... I'm really tempted as I book my next visit to tell the Disney rep "No" when they ask me if I'm celebrating anything this trip.

 

[2Tiggies]

That cart has been there for years! We took one every year the first few trips.

 

[patty57]

That cart has been there for years!

Yes, it has. Personally, I don't care what other people do as far as wearing buttons. You should probably just chill.

 

[SoarinSC]

I say chill. I mean it's an extra perk...but it's not like those buttons have always been there...it's like FP...it can become something to hoard and get angsty over...where before it existed it wasn't a thing at all. I think you're making too big a deal out of it. If it helps someone feel better about their day to wear one, how is that a bad thing? Plus saying "Happy Birthday" or "Congrats" makes the sayer as happy as the one receiving...so it's all gravy in my book. Pixie Dust can't be hoarded or it loses it's magic!

 

[Malibustyle23]

When I was at the MK last week I saw a cast member with a cart near City Hall that was full of the celebrating buttons (1st Visit, Birthday, Anniversary, Just Married, I'm Celebrating generic, etc) I had never seen this before although the CM said it's been there for about 6 months. I asked her if one has to prove it's their birthday, etc and she said no, anyone can come up and grab a button. She said we don't want anyone to feel left out. I just think this is bizarre....it makes the buttons and the whole "I'm celebrating something" meaningless. Maybe people think they're gonna get free stuff if they say they're celebrating something. I've never gotten anything but a greeting when I've worn a button, although I've heard about people getting the grey stuff at BOG or a cupcake at other restaurants. I would assume now since practically everyone's wearing a button Disney is no longer giving anything away unless perhaps something special is noted in the ADR. Just wanted to know what you think about this. Is it fair to offer everyone an "I'm celebrating" button whether they are or not? Or should I just chill?.... I'm really tempted as I book my next visit to tell the Disney rep "No" when they ask me if I'm celebrating anything this trip.

I don't get this part? Are you celebrating something and feel like you are punishing the CM by saying no or are you not celebrating something and answering the correct way? Either way I don't understand why you are "tempted to say no". It was my reply about our next trip planned when the CM asked at booking. Although last year we celebrated DD's first trip and her 5th bday while there. I don't think she even wore the First Visit pin though since our first park day was her Bday and she wore that pin instead. I thought 2 pins was excessive especially for her size.

I don't care who celebrates what.

 

[Brian Noble]

That cart has been there for years!

Yep, I think it might have been back as far as the "What Will You Celebrate?" promotion in 2009. (This was the year with free admission on your birthday.) Back with the Celebrate Today! banners, etc.

 

[Kate and Family]

Sometimes it is a matter of giving someone a present of WDW but it is taken at a time when the whole family can go. They are celebrating their birthday. In general it is just a fun button to wear. Pixie dust is pixie dust can come at any time for any reason.

 

[minnie mum]

Is it fair to offer everyone an "I'm celebrating" button whether they are or not? Or should I just chill?.... I'm really tempted as I book my next visit to tell the Disney rep "No" when they ask me if I'm celebrating anything this trip.

What's wrong with how they are doing it? How do you know they arent celebrating something??OUAT you could note it on your reservation or on your ADR, or ask for a button at check in at your resort, or ask for one at City Hall, or ask for one at Guest Relations. You were never asked for any kind of proof of your particular celebration. No birth certificates, marriage licenses or graduation certificates required. Now they have a cart outside City Hall. What's the big deal, other than shortening the lines inside??

I agree with the PPs. Chill.

 

[kelsma03]

should I just chill?

yes

 

[jm106]

I guess I am lost as to why you want people to prove what they are celebrating. I got buttons for my kids for them not for free stuff. I write on the back date and what we celebrated(preK grad, Bday.) Why should someone be left out if it isnt their Bday or anniversary? I know ppl who celebrate Bday a month late since that worked for their schedule but it was their Bday celebration, I know ppl why completed cancer treatments or celebrate a year, 2, 5 cancer free. My ods bday is the week of christmas so he cant go on his bday but if he wore a Bday pin another day but the trip was his gift, should I say no or prove it to you or CM?
They should enjoy the pin and celebrate because it makes them feel good! That's the point and I dont begrudge anyone a pin that makes them feel good and IS significant to them. I dont care if they never give anything free(we never have gotten anything) My kids still wear their pins with pride.

 

[georgina]

Isn't everyone at WDW celebrating? I don't mind everyone wearing buttons. I went a few days after my birthday and didn't feel the need to wear one, but if others want to proclaim their celebrations, why not?

 

[katt789]

I say chill. The cart's been there for years thats for sure.

I just took a trip in May and wore my birthday button for half of the trip, and we were actually in the park on my birthday, past trips, we were celebrating my best friend's birthday in Feb (her bdays in Jan) and she didn't want to be the only one getting attention, so I threw on a birthday button too.

In the past we've worn "i'm celebrating" buttons when there's other people's birthdays, when i finally got cast, auditions, whatever, it's a reason to celebrate because we're in Disney

As for the "free stuff" I still got grey stuff at BOG as a treat, but I'm friends with the server and I got a couple of cupcakes here & there that I was very appreciative of. In the past we've had servers bring out cupcakes or cards just because they liked us when we didn't even have buttons for anything on, and in Sept we went smack in the middle of my Mom & her friend's birthdays and at Flame Tree they gave all 3 of us cupcakes so I wouldn't "be left out" Disney's about making magic and people feeling special![/INDENT]

 

[bookgirl]

Who cares about proving anything? My moms and I birthday trip. Is in October but our birthdays are in September and November. It amuses my mom for us to have buttons so we get them at checkin. More often or not I don't wear a button (either not celebrating or tired of wearing it). When you do wear it most of the time all it gets you is a friendly happy birthday or congrats from a cast member or another park guest. A lot of people LOVE that little gesture and it's not like it costs anything.

 

[andyman8]

You used to have to go to Guest Services to get the buttons (which started around 2009 with the "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign. At the beginning of the year, they made them available at the cart in an effort to free up space at guest relations for all the MyMagic+ complainers. Originally, you got free admission to a Disney Park on your birthday (Disney's way to combat the 2008/9 recession) but you did have to provide proof (i.e. birth certificate, passport, driver's licensee, etc...). That only lasted for 2009 though. Wish they would bring it back but not even I can dream like that!

 

[DisGirl819]

Yep anyone can take any buttons they want. One trip my DD (she was 5, or maybe 4) insisted upon having one of each type of button and wearing them all at once, and then alternating days and wearing each of them all trip long. She is very vocal and of course told CMs and people that it wasn't really her birthday, anniversary or whatever but that she just liked the buttons. She did get a birthday one on our last trip and it legitimately was her birthday. She wore it everyday and loved the attention. I would never pretend we were celebrating something we weren't but you can absolutely get buttons for anything you want.

 

[MichelleVW]

Seriously? Getting worked up because people want to wear a button. I got my daughter got a button last trip because she just graduated college....She went to Guest services on our trip in March to get one herself because she was celebrating getting accepted into the Disney College Program. We also each picked a day on our March trip to wear a birthday button because our birthday's were within a few weeks of the trip.

People say Happy Birthday...Congrats...whatever.....I seriously can't believe anyone would get annoyed because too many people have buttons.

 

[mummabear]

yes, chill out.
Last trip at DTD we had a CM at the door of WOD asking if we would like a button? are we celebrating anything and we said no, she said there must be something, DH joked that the girls were eating their first ever candy apple so she gave us one.
Always makes me smile when I see it in her room reminding me of what a mess she was after eating it!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Our 2009 trip actually was over my Birthday so I wore my pin and I really appreciated all of the kind remarks. My best friend was traveling with us and a very funny CM decided that she should have one too so he went and wrote "UN" on the Birthday button. So hers said she was celebrating her "Un-Birthday"

We thought it was hilarious and went around singing "A very happy un-birthday, to you and you and you"

I think the buttons are great and adorable. Disney's stance is that EVERYONE is celebrating SOMETHING at Disney!! Plus, not everyone can travel on the exact date of their Birthday or special accomplishment. I'm gifting my boyfriend his portion of the trip as his birthday gift this year... His birthday is in July and we go in Sept. I doubt he would wear a pin... but i'm sure my seven year old daughter will

So, honestly.... you need to chill... its a magical, fun place... and that warrants celebration enough!

 

[BudgieMama]

I think the buttons are great and adorable. Disney's stance is that EVERYONE is celebrating SOMETHING at Disney!! Plus, not everyone can travel on the exact date of their Birthday or special accomplishment.

Bingo! We will be arriving at WDW 4 days after our wedding anniversary. We normally take our holiday on our anniversary week, but are due to attend a friend's wedding 2 days after it, so we couldn't make that work this year. Ideally, we would have stayed at WDW until my birthday on September 1st, but I work in a school, and we're back in on my birthday... so the last day of our trip, I'll be celebrating my birthday early with a nice meal at Le Cellier... Exact dates? No. Near enough that we will actually be celebrating? You betcha!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I do think it's getting a little ridiculous myself. I thought it was a promotion they were doing for a while, but it's getting kind of annoying to always be asked "Are you celebrating something?" when I call to make a reservation. It's almost like they're saying, "What do you mean you're just going to Disney because you want to and have the money and the time? You should only go because you're celebrating some special occasion!"

On my last trip, at check in at All Star Movies, the CM asked me if it was my first visit. I said "Oh, no, I've been to WDW many times. But this is my first stay at this particular resort". So she felt the need to slap a "First visit" button on the counter. I didn't want the thing, and never wore it.